If it was altogether predictable that the Amaila Falls hydropower project would dominate the discourses at the August 14-15 National Economic Forum, the fact that the role of the small business sector in the country’s wider economic ambitions failed to even make the cut as a key issue for discourse at the opening of the forum was a considerable disappointment. That, particularly si
nce President Donald Ramotar himself has talked up what we are told are the various contributions which small businesses can make to the growth of the country’s economy. Not least among these are job creation, the establishment of new economic sectors and the consolidation of existing ones and the enhancement of potential for external market access for such new products and services as may derive from a consolidated small business sector.
It took more than eight years following the passage in the National Assembly of the Small Business Act for government to give institutional effect to the legislation by creating the Small Business Council and the Small Business Bureau. The latter will be responsible for furnishing small businesses with loans,